The Status Quo, Barriers, and Countermeasures to Small Hydropower Development in Rural China Hydropower and Rural Electrification Development Bureau, the Ministry of Water Conservancy Liu Jinghe

Contents Small Hydropower Resources in China Achievements Barriers Internal problems of small hydropower Institutional, market, and policy barriers Recommendations Prospects

I. The Small Hydropower Resources of China Theoretical potential: 676GW, annual electricity generating capacity: 5920TW.h. Technologically exploitable: 378GW, accounting for 13.22% of the world total, annual electricity generating capacity: 1920TW.h. Of which: small hydropower 128GW,annual generating capacity: 640TW.h. Share in China ’ s hydropower production: 29.7%,ranking No. 1 in the world.

Hydropower Resources of Selected Countries 180% 120% 250% 210% Small hydropower 128GW

The Distribution of Small Hydro- power among Different Regions West East Central

The Untapped Shares in Different Provinces Province Installed Capacity

II. China ’ s Small Hydropower Development Achievements Development speed: 5% ～ 10% By the end of 2003: there have been small hydropower stations in over 1600 counties, their installed capacity is 31.2GW and annual electricity output 110TW. ｈ, both accounting for 40% of the national total More than 800 county grids and over 40 regional grids have been built, more than 800 counties mainly rely on small hydropower for electricity supply Accumulatively, giving electricity supply access to more than 500 million people

Achievements (Contd.) In through phases, 653 rural counties realize preliminary electrification; the GDP, fiscal revenue, per capita farmer income, and per capita electricity use are “ doubled in 5 years ” and “ quadrupled in 10 years ” Cultivated thousands of small hydropower experts for 60 countries and regions, participated in the construction of hundreds of small hydropower projects in more than 50 countries Ecological and environment protection, 100 mt t CO 2 of GHG emission reduction

III. Barrier to Small Hydro- power Development in China 1. Inherent problems of small hydropower Small electricity production scale Instable supply: high water seasons and low water seasons, peak and bottom hours Low technology level and efficiency of the generating units Improper operation modes Operation suspension during overhaul and accidents

Barriers (Contd.) 2. Institutional, market, and policy barriers The resource administration system is imperfect, vagueness in responsibility and function division Electricity sales difficulty – market monopoly Commonweal nature restriction — policy- based supply is insufficient, without the necessary compensation

Impacts of the Barriers (economic analysis) Capacity deducted 30%, in some cases even as high as over 50% (Fig.) The electricity production deduction in 2002 was 41TW.h, in terms of revenue loss, over RMB 10 billion

A comparison of the theoretical and actual electricity Output of Chinese rural hydropower plants ( ) (Tw.h) Designed output Actual output

Capacity deduction  higher unit generating capacity construction cost and unit electricity generating cost  losses (Fig.) In 2002, the Chinese small hydropower projects ’ s actual average generating cost is 0.06 RMB/kW.h higher than the average designed generating cost Among the 64 small hydropower stations studied: 11 realize some profits; 13 break even; 40 are in the red; namely, 62% of them report losses. The average actual electricity generating cost is 0.05RMB/kW.h higher than the average electricity price

Theoretical and Actual Production Costs of the 64 Hydropower stations in （ RMB/kw.h ） 理论发电成本实际发电成本 Theoretical generating costs Actual generating costs

The actual costs and sales price of the 64 small hydropower stations （ RMB/kwh ） 实际电价 单位售电成本 Actual power generating cost Electricity price

IV. Policy Recommendations Policy Direction: internalize the positive externality costs of rural hydropower through such macroeconomic measures as administrative laws and regulations, preferential electricity price, tax, subsidy so as to bridge the gap between production costs and social costs (Fig.)

Project cost curve Policy direction Market quantit y Optimal quantity Electricity output （ Tkw.h ）

Recommendations (Contd.) Eliminate institutional and market barriers Specify and quantify the market share of small hydropower Giving priority in grid access and require the grids to purchase all the electricity output of small hydropower plants Acknowledge its commonweal nature

Recommendations (Contd.) Optimize the electricity pricing mechanism Offer market price protection to the grid entry of rural hydropower ; protect them from direct competition with regular energy sources. On the above basis, establish a grid entry and price control system to stimulate the development of rural hydropower

Recommendations (Contd.) Strengthen capacity building on small hydropower enterprises Improve adjustability Optimize operating modes Adopt advanced technologies Intensify management, lay off redundant workers, and increase efficiency

V. Development Prospects of the Chinese Small Hydropower Industry Market demand Sustained rural economic growth, urbanization, increases in farmer income, huge potential market. 400kW.h Market supply Abundant resources, low exploitation rate. 128GW- 31.2GW=96.8 The Renewable Energy Promotion Law – expected. Enormous financing potential: fiscal support, credit, private enterprises, foreign investment (Fig.)

Local fund-raising (province, prefecture,city, county) Other fund (electricity sales revenue, electricity construction foundation

Therefore, in terms of demand and supply potential, small hydropower projects have very promising market prospects in China.

~End~ Thanks, Comments Welcomed!